Thursday 30 August 2012

Easy Bath Bombs



4278666_DSC03804 (700x525, 80Kb)

Now that we have a real bath at home I can perfect my skills of bath bomb making. I know that there are a hundred recipes floating around the net, but I often find them unsafe or just too complicated to make.

 I want to share one that is tested and definitely works even for sensitive skin. I have extremely sensitive skin and it was tested on me.
It is all made extremely simple but I actually find the outcome slightly better than bombs from the store.

Ingredients

4 tbsp. tablespoons of baking soda;
2 tbsp. spoon of citric acid;
3 tbsp. dry milk / or corn starch
1 tbsp. teaspoon sea salt;
1 tbsp. spoon of magnesium sulfate (also known as Epsom salts, also known as magnesium), buy over the counter  if I cannot get it I use rock salt.
20 drops of olive oil /or if you fancy essential oil

Just a brief note on oils:
To de-stress and relax - use orange oil, bergamot, basil, grapefruit, geranium, lavender, lemon balm, rose, rosemary or sage.
To create a romantic mood take the oil of jasmine, ylang-ylang, ginger, patchouli, cardamom, cinnamon, juniper, neroli, sandalwood or thyme.

You can also use food dyes or spices, fine grass or flowers, chocolate, cocoa, honey, bran, oat flour etc.

For molding:
There are special moulds available in hobby shops but you can also use any silicone molds for biscuits and cakes, yogurt cups, halved tennis balls



You will also need a container for mixing the ingredients;  and a pair of rubber gloves


Preparation:

Put your gloves on. I like to use them as they make life much more easier and stops sweat getting into the balls from your hands. To start mix the baking soda and lemon juice, if possible, try to grind these components, as can be smaller. (Citric acid interaction with fizzy soda gives the desired effect) Now add the milk powder and thoroughly stir again add salt, oils and dyes .

Stir until smooth.

If the resulting mixture is wet enough, start making balls - by filling the molds with the mixture. If the mixture is dry - add a little water. But be careful: if the mixture begins to sizzle - so water is enough.

If you use molds, grease them with olive oil and fill them with the mix and leave for 1 hour in a dry place. Take out the bombs from the mold and leave to dry 24 hours, so that they can mature by a better bonding of all components.

To make bombs colored ready-mix should be divided into two (or more) pieces and add dyes. Put in only 1-2 drops!



4278666_mg5473enl (640x427, 79Kb)

I actually like to put in ground cinnamon or coffee, lavender, rose hips or petals and buds that I have collected in the garden. I also use some fairy dust (LOL) especially at Christmas time. This adds a lot of sparkle to the season.

That's it, you can safely take a bath and enjoy the bombs. It's also a nice gift for friends and family. For children prepare a bomb with a surprise inside. This can be any small action figure, big pearl or gem or anything else that come to mind. To do this, during the molding of bombs put the "surprise" in the middle of the composition.

4278666_DSC03797_2 (700x525, 66Kb)

Sunday 26 August 2012

Siesta at Siklós Castle












A Small Note from Paradise







People are always telling you that change is a good thing. But all they're really saying is that something you didn't want to happen at all... has happened. Our holiday has ended this week and we are back to our "normal" life as we know it.....sad. Not that we had a bad life but it is full of rushing and repetitive motions I take really badly. Summer is also over we had a horrible storm last night while on our trip out for the best ice cream in the city. After those 37-ish degrees it was only a chilly 17 which is a bit hard to take.
Anyway I will have  the best memories of the last days: lazy mornings, warm lights, scented lotions, and hmm that venison with forest fruits......hmmmmmmm....

Saturday 25 August 2012

Mellow Summer Afternoon





“I think we have to take this turn."
"No, I think we still have to go down this road and turn left at the end."
Two bikers just seem a bit lost in the city looking for a memory of the past. Heat is unbearable even on the bikes. The sign at the end of the road points them in a direction completely opposite they were heading. No problem, a sharp turn and again they are on track. Now flying in the right direction, to the very edge of the city.
“I had my best southern fried cheese and fries at that restaurant." My husband explained as we got a glimpse of the building.
Faded yellow wall and green beams with traditional 20's touch, and that dated revamp which was compulsory in the mid 70's. Simple but very welcoming with the tables spread under the horse chestnuts’ shadow in front of the restaurant. As we set down memories, stories, pictures just rushed to my hubby and I could not stop listening and enjoying each word, sentence and story.
A light breeze was hanging on the leaves and we had the best southern fried cheese and fries at that restaurant.
As places like these don't always survive in the "western wind" our visit soon might just be a memory. In fact, some day I might look at it as a tribute to this city, the way it keeps changing on you, the way you can never count on it. I know because that's the sort of thing I'm always saying about things like that. But the truth is... I'm happy and heartbroken at the same time.
The light breeze tangled on the leaves until the sun went down and we went home. Left me thinking about the place the smells, lights. Would this be here the next time we are around? I will never know ….and believe me not knowing has its charms.